Born at Paraclete, Grenada, Benjamin described himself as descended from enslaved people who lived at Ninian Home’s plantations. Benjamin was the first Grenadian to be awarded a Commonwealth scholarship to study art, which he did at Brighton College of Arts, England.

He visited and stayed at Paxton House, gifting these paintings to the then owner, Helen Home Robertson, who became godmother to his daughter. Benjamin taught art in Grenadian schools, served as Supervisor of Art in the Ministry of Education, and won a BBC Prize in its First Caribbean Poetry Contest in 1980.

Benjamin’s painting, Dance for Mamma and Grandpa was reproduced on millions of stamps sold to raise funds for UNICEF. In 1992, Benjamin received an MBE (Member of the British Empire) for his contribution to the development of the visual arts in Grenada.

This painting was conserved in 2022 with a grant from the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund.